Eaves trough bracket



Patented Aug. 2l, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EAVES TROUGH BRACKET Louis L. Ramser, Jr., Louisville, Ky.

Application May 26, 1950, Serial No. 164,311

\11 Claims. (Cl. 2484-481) This invention relates to an improved hanger or bracket for eaves troughs or gutters.

It is an object of my invention to provide a rigid support for eaves trough which is strong enough to prevent the trough being pulled down by accumulations of ice vor snow liable to be encountered during the Winter season.

A further object is the provision of a gutter bracket which does not require to be attached to the roof surface, and thus can be used for repair work on slate or tile covered roofs Without the need for removing part of the roof covering.

Still another object is the provision of a relatively inexpensive gutter bracket made from sheet stock, which can be secured easily to the facia board, and in which the tensile strength of the sheet is utilized to support the gutter.

Another object is the provision of a gutter bracket which supports the gutter in a manner to resist deformation of the gutter under loads.

In accordance with the present invention, a gutter bracket is constructed having a tubular portion to receive a spike by which it is secured to the facia board of the eaves, and a ange or web portion extending from said tubular portion and terminating in an edge adapted to abut the facia board. The web may be reinforced by flanges at its edges to increase the resistance of the web to lateral bending or buckling. In such brackets for use with semi-circular gutters, said web may be interrupted, one part extending from the facia board to the outside wall of the gutter, and the other part extending from the inside wall of the gutter from a point directly opposite to the tubular section. As the two sections of the Web engage the gutter wall in registering relation on opposite sides of the gutter wall,` in effect they form a continuous reinforcing web. The improved gutter bracket is fastened to the facia board by a spike passing through the tubular section and through the outer edge of the gutter, and is suiciently strong that any normal failure of the bracket will come from the spike pulling out of the facia board rather than by bending of the gutter bracket.

The invention will be described in greater detail in connection with the accompanying drawings illustrating embodiments of the invention by Way of example, and wherein:

Figure l is a side elevation of an embodiment of the invention applied to a colonial type gutter shown in section,

Figure 2 is a section of the bracket taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view of a detail,

Figure 4 represents a schematic layout of the bracket on a sheet,

Figure 5 is a side elevation of a modication applied to a half round gutter, and

Figure 6 represents a schematic layout of the modification shown in Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a side elevation of a modification ogee type gutter.

Figure 8 represents a schematic layout of bracket modification shown in Figure '7.

Referring tothe drawing, Figures l to 4, the bracket may be constructed of sheet metal bent to shape, and comprises a sleeve I which has depending ribs or Webs 2, 3 tapering generally in width toward the facia board end, and terminating in flanges d, 5 at the facia board end. The webs 2 and 3 may be secured together, if desired, by spot welding or in any other suitable manner to provide in effect a web of double thickness, and the exterior or sloping edges of the web may be ilanged at 'I and 8 to provide addi` tional resistance to lateral buckling. Additional strength in the web may be secured by punching out a hole 9 in each web and striking up the metal at the hole, as indicated at IU, and iiangcs may be provided at the front and bottom edges II and I2 respectively. The bracket may be constructed from a generally T shaped sheet metal blank as shown in Figure 4 by punching out the holes 9, 9' and striking up the metal around the holes and bending over the flanges on the dot and dash lines, then bending the blank at the middle to form the sleeve I.

A gutter or trough of the colonial type is shown in Figure l, and has a back wall I4, and a generally `ogee front wall I5 terminating in a bead or iiange I6. In attaching the gutter to a roof, a hole is punched in the front Wall at I'I, a spike I8 is passed through the hole into sleeve I, and the spike is driven through the back Wall I4 into the facia board I9 of the eave and into the end of a joist 20 abutting the facia board. This brings the anges 4 and 5 against the back Wall I4 of the gutter and, if desired, nails 2| may be driven through holes 22 formed therein and through the back wall into the facia board to further insure the bracket from turning about the spike as a pivot. The lower edge 1, 8 and flanges I2 of the web are sufficiently above the bottom of the gutter so as not to obstruct the flow of water or leaves from trees, etc. therethrough.

There is thus provided a strong rigid bracket for supporting the gutter. The tubular part I cannot bend because it contains the spike which prevents collapse of its walls, and bending is further resisted by the median Webs 2, 3. Buckling of these webs is resisted by the struck up portions I 0, the iianges T, 8 and the Welding together of the two webs. The bracket is made of relatively thin gauge sheet metal, yet is so strong that the only way the gutter can be pulled down or caused to sag is by the spike pulling out of the facia board and joist. However, the spike is of such length that it penetrates the facia board for about two inches. This offers sufcient resistance to withdrawal of the spike so that the gutter will not pull down or sag under the rncst severe conditions encountered in practice. The brackets may be located at any suitable distance apart along the gutter, as their construction does not limit their application to any particular part of Vthe facia board. The bracket requires relatively little metal, and can be constructed cheaply of scrap material found in tin and roofing shops, by-stamping and bending operations. However, if desired, the bracket may be constructed as a casting or forging, or in any other manner desired.

In the 4modiiication shown vin Figures 5 and 6, the details of construction are modified for supporting half round gutters. The bracket comprises a strip of sheet metal bent double to provide a tubular part I, and Vmiddle webs 2S, 21 which are Aflanged at the edges at I and S. The rear edges 28 and 29 are formed on an arc and are flanged, so that the edges correspond to the curvature of the inside of the half round gutter 3l?. The piece 25 connects to an enlarged portion ZI which is `bent back upon itself at the edges to provide iianges 32 and web portions 33, 35, the ilatter being curved at the edges 35, 3l to correspondfto the outsideof the gutter and are hanged. The two webs may be fastened together by spot welding, if desired.

In this modication the flanges 32 abut the faciaboard on the outside of the gutter, and the webs 33, 36. span that part of the distance between the Iianges and tube I which lies between the -ianges andthe outside wall of the gutter, while the 'webs 25, 2l span the remaining distance between the tube I and the inside of the gutter. As the 'two parts of the web inside and outside the gutter are directly opposite, they form in eiiect a continuous web between the tube I and yiianges 32 which supports and reenforces the tube I inthe same Way as in the modification described in connection 'with lFigures 1 to 4. In this embodiment the spike vholds firmer because the pivot or fulcrum for pulling out the spike lies at so that in order for the spike to pull out it must bend upward where it enters the facia board.

The curved flanges and the webs 33, 34 may extend outwardly vas far .as desired, but preferably do not extend beyond the center of the trough, so that water flowing down the outside face of the trough will not be trapped between the trough wall and bracket where it would lie and cause rusting. Also, if desired, the ilanges 26, 2l may be omitted from the sleeve I, in which case the trough would be supported at the bottom exteriorly, and would be held against collapse by the spike I8 and sleeve I. In this case, web 25 also could be omitted.

In the modification shown in Figures '7 and 8, the flanges 2, 3 are tapered and are of reduced lll height so as to provide more space beneath for passage of leaves and other debris. Flanges I and Il may be provided to increase resistance to bending. The front and rear edges of the tubular portion I are flanged as indicated at II and 42. These iianges engage the interior face of the gutter and prevent entrance of moisture to the spike. The layout for this modification is shown in Figure 8 wherein the dot-and-dash lines show the lines of'fold in the blank.

The invention may be embodied in various other forms without departing from the spirit or scope thereof.

.I claim as my invention:

l. A gutter bracket comprising a tubular niemyber adapted to be received in a horizontal position in a gutter between the front wall and the back wall thereof; and a web exten-ding substantially vertically from said tubular member and terminating at a substantially vertical base line adapted to abut the acia board of an eave, said web being flanged at the edge abutting the eave.

2. A gutter bracket as specied in claim 1 wherein anges extend laterally from said web at said base. Y

3. A gutter bracket at specied in claim 1 wherein said web is of generally triangular form with its apex .at the front end of said tubular member.

4. A roof gutter bracket comprising a tubular member; a substantially vertical flange extending at right angles to the axis of said tubular member and adapted to abut a facia board; and web means extending substantially in the plane of said axis between said tubular member and flange.

5. A gutter bracket as specified in claim 4 wherein said web is divided on an arcuate edge for reception of a gutter wall.

6. A gutter bracket comprising a sheet metal piece curled to provide a tubular portion with a web portion extending from said tubular portion and terminating at a base substantially in line with one end of the tubular portion, said base being bent to `provide at least one ange adapted to engage a facia board.

7. A gutter bracket comprising a sheet metal piece curled medially to provide a tubular portion with webs rextending from said tubular portion and terminating at a base substantially in line with one end of said tubular portion; said base being bent to provide flange extending transverse to said web.

8. A gutter bracket as specified in claim 7 having means to secure said iianges together.

9. A gutter bracket comprising a sheet metal piece curled medially to provide a tubular portion for receiving a spike; iianges connected to said tubular portion and extending transversely at right angles to said tubular portion for engaging a facia board; and webs extending between said tubular portion and flange for supporting said tubular portion.

10. A gutter bracket as specified in claim 9 wherein said webs are secured together, and are each divided arcuately to receive a gutter wall.

11. A gutter bracket comprising a web portion terminating at one edge in anges adapted to be attached to a facia board, the other edge being curved to engage the outside of a gutter.

LOUIS L. RAMSER, JR.

No references cited. 

